Splice clamp



E. E. SCHMID ET AL March 10, 1925.

SPLICE' CLAMP Filed July 26, 1924 V 5 on N f F WW w w Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,528,894 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST E. SGHMID, OF HOLLIS, AND WILLIAM H. SCHNEIDER, OF FRE EPORT,

NEW YORK.

SPLICE CLAMP.

Application filed July 26, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ERNEST E. SOHMID, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hollis, county of Queens, and State of New York, and VILLIAM H. SCHNEIDER, residing in Freeport, county of Nassau, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Splice Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in splice clamps for joining the ends of two abutting members and preserving the alignment ofv the same.

A particular application of the invention is to the joining of the abutting ends of the third rail protection board on electric railways or the like, however, the clamp is not limited to this particular use but may be used in various places where it is desired to preserve the alignment of two abutting members.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a splice clamp which will engage both the upper and lower faces of the abutting ends of third rail protection boards or the like so as to preserve the alignment thereof for a limited time even though the bolts or other means by which the clamp is secured to the abutting members may become loosened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a splice clamp having greatly increased longitudinal strength over the flat or angular splice clamps now in use and hence better adapted to preserve the alignment of the members it splices but which can be produced and installed with little additional cost over the cost of producing and installing the present splice clamps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a splice clamp which will grip the upper and lower faces of the abutting mem bers with a spring pressure to assist in retaining the clamp upon the members and in holding the members in alignment.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a splice clamp with a ventilating groove or corrugation which will permit circulation of air between the clamp and the members which it splices thereby reducing capillary attraction and permitting the drying out of the wood, preventing rotting of the same.

Various other objects and advantages Serial N 0. 728,510.

,metal member 1, provided with an upper lapping portion 2, a side member 3 and a lower tongue 4L and is adapted to fit upon the third rail protection boards 5 or other members to be spliced in a position as indicated in Figure 2.

The front part of the lapping portion 2 is preferably bent downward at 6 and the front of the tongue 4 is preferably bent upward to permit a spring like grip on the abutting members between the portions 4 and 6 and the edges of these members are turned outward at 4 and 6 to permit the clamp to be easily slipped upon the mem bers to be spliced. A longitudinal ridge or corrugation 7 is provided in the lapping portion 2 to increase-the strength of the clamp and to permit the circulation of air between the lapping portion and the protection boards 5 so as to permit drying of the protection boards and prevent rotting of the ends thereof and the bowed shape of the spring tongue 4 spaces the tongue from the lower edge of the protection boards as indicated at 4 to form an air gap along this portion of the clamp. The holes 8 are provided in the lapping member 2 for receiving the carriage bolts 9 by which the splice clamp is secured to the abutting ends of the protection board and if desired, holes 10 may be provided in the side member 3 for lag screws to rigidly secure the clamp to the edges of the boards.

In the use of the ordinary splice clamps as heretofore provided, which comprise merely a flat or angular piece of metal bridging the abutting ends of the protection board and secured thereto by means of bolts 9 or the like, the bolts in service often work loose due to the people jumping or walking on the boards, due to the vibra tion of the contact shoes passing over the third rail or due to. the passing of the cars along the. adjacent track; This looseness often permits the end of one of the protection boardsto. drop below the other board into the" path of the contact shoe so that the contact shoes are broken off in this way even though careful and frequent inspection is made of these splices. The protection boards also tendto warp the joints and drop away from the ordinary flat or angular splice clamps.

By the use of the present invention. however." due 110 the increased longitudinal strength of .our clamp and the contact with both sides of the boards. our clamp serves to prevent warping and to retain the al utting ends 01 the protection boards in proper alignment .erciri't' the-carriage bolts do work loose. The ventilating groo've or corrugation 7, materially increases the'longitudinal strength of the splice clamp, and at the same time prevents the rotting out of the ends of the protection;board-- so that they give longer service.-

It is. otcourse, olnions that the s1. ting leatures 0'1" the tongue l and portion (3 may he dispensed with, and a strengthened splice clamp provided, of the general shape illus-- tratech which merely tits tightl upon the upper and lower fares oi the abutting; ends of the protection boards. and tl at the same advantage-of preserving; the aligninent oi theprotection ljioards against warpingand against loosening of the carriage bolts may be secured thereby.

Such a constructiontogether with a; other changes and: modifications which :fall within the spiritofour. invention or the scope of theappended elaims'are to be considered a part ofour invention.

lVe claim:

1. 1 splice clamp tor joining the abutting ends of protectionhoards ,or the like, comprising an;upperlapping portioin a lower contact portion and rigid connecting means therebetween.

2. A splice clamp for joining the abutting ends of protection boards or the like comprising an upper lapping portion, a lower contact portion and connecting means therehetween, said upper and lower portions normally positioned closer together than the width otthemembers which they are to join so as to exert a spring or wedging action upon the abutting ends otthe protec tion. boards.

3. A splice clamp-o'hthe type described having a portion thereo'l spaced from the members it splices to permit eirrulation of air between the clamp and the spliced iii-enihers.

l. Asplice clamp of. the type described. comprising a resilient upper lapping; M16113 her. a res lent lower contact .i'neinber. means connecting said members and a longitudinal corrugation ,in said lapping members to strengthen the clamp and'to permit circulation of air: between said lapping inenilier and the meu'ihers lapped.

5. In a splice clamp oi the t3 1e described a resilient lapping member, a resilient lower rontact member. means connecting said ll'1Q]lll)Gl'S- .21 strengthening and ventilating ridge in said upper lapping member a upturned edges on the lapping member :11. the contact member lopermit easy appliration ol the splice clamp to themvmhen l i be spliced.

6. .e't three sided L-shapcd splice clamp for protection boards .orthe like. proriiliwl with a longiti'nilinalcorrugation in thn lm ff leg oi the is :lor increasing.- the: streu y th thereof.

In testimony whereof .wehave amt-zed our signatures to this specification.

ERNEST E. SGHMIDfl WILLIAM .H. SCHNEIDER. 

